Sprinting-spring.



No. 871,864. PATENTED NOV. 26, 1907. F. FEAZELL & H. THOMPSON.

SPRINTING SPRING.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 20. 1907.

UNITED snares PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK FEAZELL AND HEN'RY THOMPSON, ()F WINNFIELD, LOUISIANA.

SPRINTING-SPRING.

Specification of Letters Patent. i

Patented Nov. 26, 1907.

Application filed March 30. 1907. Serial No. 865,521.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FRANK FEAZELL and HENRY THOMPSON citizens of the United States, residing at Winn'field, in the parish of Winn and State of Louisiana, have invented a new and useful Sprinting-Spring, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in s .rinting springs.

1e object of the present invention is to improve the construction oi sprinting .hereto ap ended; it being understood that various 0 ranges in the form, proportion, size and minor details of construction, within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention. In the drawingz-Figure 1 is a perspective view of a sprinting spring, constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 12 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line :ra; of Fig. 2.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures ofthe drawing.

1 designates a substantially U-shaped resilient body, constructed of suitable'sprin metal and consisting of an upper incliner foot plate 2 and a horizontal base 3. The inclined upper portion or foot plate conforms to .the general configuration of the sole or bottom portion. of a shoe, and it extends downwardly and rearwardly, and is connected at its rear end with the rear end of the base 3 by a sprin bond 4.

The base 3 consists of a relatively narrow strip having straight side ed es, and providcd with a laterally enlarged front end 5, having a straight front edge and rounded rear corners. The laterally extending projections or )ortions 6 of the enlarged end 5 are ada )lJG-(f to provide a broad hearing beneath the ball of the foot to enable the person using sprintin spring to run, jump or other so so the cvice with steadiness and certaint The strength and resiliency of the device is increased by a coiled spring 7 of inverted conical form, interposed ietwcen the upper and lower portions of the device, and having its apex. or smaller 0nd 8 seated on the enlarged portion of the base 3. The base 3 is provided at the enlarged portion with an n iwardly projecting stud 9, extending into 1; e small end S of the spriin and embraced by the bottom coil thereof, whereby the spring is retained against movement laterally or lon itudinally of the base. The stud 9 is provided with a reduced shank ll), ex-

tendin through the base and headed at the lower lace thereof.

The top coil of the spring is secured to the lower face of the foot plate 2 by a clip 11, having a front engaging portion and provided with a shank or rear portion, which is secured by a rivet 12, or other suitable fastening device to the lower face of the top plate. The front engaging portion is slightly curved, and the rear portion of the top coil of the spring is confined between the engag ing portion of the clip and the lower face of the foot plate. I

The foot plate is provided at its front portion with a toe clamp, constructed similar to those commonly used on skates, and consisting of opposite clamp members 13, slidably mounted on the lower face of the top plate and operated by a screw 14. The upwardly extending portions or jaws of the clamp membars are adapted to enga e the sole of a shoe at-the opposite sides of t 1e toe or front portion of the same, and the screw, which is centrally mounted beneath the foot plate, is provided with right and left hand threaded portions, engaging threaded openings of depending portions 15 of the clamp members, and adapted to move the latter simultaneously inwardly or outwardly. The clamp members are provided with longitudinal slots 16, and are engaged by headed studs 17, or other suitable fastening devices, which pass through the slots 16. The foot plate is also provided at its rear portion with a heel-engaging screw 18, and it has heel straps 19 for engaging the foot in the usual manner. The foot plate has slots 20 at opposite sides of its rear portion, and the straps 1%), whi are passed through the slots, are loop around the slotted portions of the foot plu the terminals'ol the straps being attached to the body portion thereof by rivets 21, or other suitable fastening devices.

One of the straps is provided with a buckle to receive the other end of the strap, which is provided at intervals with perforations for the tongue of the buckle. Any other suitable means may, however, be employed for attaching the device to the foot of the wearer.

The U-shaped spring frame and the coiled spring are compressed in the operation of the device, and the resiliency of these springs are adapted to facilitate or increase the jumping or springing movements of the person using the device.

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is p 1. A device of the class described comprising a substantially U-shaped body portion constructed of resilient material to form a spring and consisting of an inclined upper portion or foot plate, a horizontal lower portion or base, and a spring bend connecting the rear ends of the foot plate and the base, a coiled spring interposed between the front portions of the foot plate and the base, and means for attaching the device to the foot of a person.

2. A device of the class described comprising a substantially Lil-shaped body portion base, an inverted conical spring interposed between the foot plate-and the base at the front portions thereof, a stud projecting from the base and fitting in the small end of the spring, and a clip mounted on the lower face of the foot plate and engaging the upper coil of the spring.

In testimony, that e claim the foregoing as our own, We have hereto affixed our signa turesin the presence of we Witnesses.

- FRANK FEAZELL.

HENRY THOMPSON.

\Witnesses: v

J. D. IPA-en, J. D. Nn'rTLns.

constructed of resilient material, and consist mg of an upper toot plate, and a horizont'al 

